Comparison
DJI Mini SE vs DJI Mavic 3 Classic
Would you notice?
Mini SE vs Mavic 3 Classic: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice max video, gimbal, wind. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini SE is unmarked / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mavic 3 Classic is C1 (Flyer ID + Operator ID).
Set I fly on the home bench to see net upgrade cost from your airframe (CeX cash vs used / RRP). It stays in this browser.
| Spec |  unmarked · 249 g |  C1 · 895 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 11 Jun 2021 | 2 Nov 2022 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 249 g Ahead | 895 g |
| UK class / IDs | unmarked · sub-250 g · Operator ID + Flyer ID | C1 · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Ahead | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) |
| From uninvolved people | No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: under 250 g is A1 — same Open subcategory as C0. May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Ahead | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C1 as UK1). Towns OK in A1. |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 138 × 81 × 58 mm | 221 × 96.3 × 90.3 mm (folded, no props) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8–f/11 |
| Field of view | 83° Same | 84° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–3200 / 100–3200 | 100–6400 / 100–6400 |
| Colour / log | Rec. 709 / normal | D-Log / D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 2.7K/30 | 5.1K/50 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 20° tilt | 90° tilt Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 30 min | 46 min Ahead |
| Hover time | — | 40 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.5 m/s | Level 5 · 12 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 46.8 km/h Sport | 68 km/h EU · 75 km/h FCC Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 4 / 3 m/s | 8 / 6 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 3000 m | 6000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Downward | Omnidirectional Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 2 km CE · Enhanced Wi-Fi (4 km FCC) | 8 km CE · O3+ (15 km FCC) Ahead |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 17.3 Wh | 77 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | Card only Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | microSD, UHS-I Speed Class 3 | microSD UHS-I Speed Grade 3, up to 512 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + GLONASS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40 °C | −10 to 40 °C |
The i beside a spec is the explainer — hover or tap.
Questions
Will I notice the camera?
Mini SE main: 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm, 2.7K/30. Mavic 3 Classic main: 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm, 5.1K/50. You would notice sensor class in low light; you would not notice the word 4K if both already do it.
Do I need to register the Mavic 3 Classic in the UK?
Mavic 3 Classic is C1, takeoff about 895 g (Just under 900 g.). In the UK a Flyer ID is required from 100 g, and an Operator ID is required from 100 g with a camera or from 250 g — this airframe needs both. This is not legal advice; read the CAA Drone Code for the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
Do I need to register the Mini SE in the UK?
Mini SE is unmarked, takeoff about 249 g (DJI publishes takeoff under 249 g. Not Mini 2 SE (that is the Mini 4K shell).). In the UK a Flyer ID is required from 100 g, and an Operator ID is required from 100 g with a camera or from 250 g — this airframe needs both. This is not legal advice; read the CAA Drone Code for the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
How far from people can I fly the Mavic 3 Classic in the UK?
Mavic 3 Classic (C1): A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027). May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C1 as UK1). Towns OK in A1. Open height is 120 m AGL. Never over crowds. This is not legal advice — the CAA Drone Code (March 2026) applies to the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
How far from people can I fly the Mini SE in the UK?
Mini SE (unmarked): A1 Over People. No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: under 250 g is A1 — same Open subcategory as C0. May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Open height is 120 m AGL. Never over crowds. This is not legal advice — the CAA Drone Code (March 2026) applies to the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
Which is better in wind?
Mavic 3 Classic carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Mini SE 10.5 m/s, Mavic 3 Classic 12 m/s). On a UK headland that is often the whole decision. Lab Level numbers that match can still feel different because weight is not in the level name.
Which is better at dusk?
Mavic 3 Classic on paper. Mini SE is 1/2.3-inch CMOS with Downward; Mavic 3 Classic is 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad with Omnidirectional. Nightscape still needs texture and a minimum lux — it is not night vision.
Which is better for travel?
Mini SE if the constraint is a bag and UK class (unmarked, 249 g). Mavic 3 Classic if you will accept C1 and 895 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Mini SE batteries, controller or ND filters?
These do not share a battery family. Plan to buy packs, and check ND thread and RC protocol — Mini 4 Pro filters and batteries do not sit on a Mini 5 Pro.
How much more does it cost?
DJI UK RRP (as of 2026-08-31): Mini SE —, Mavic 3 Classic £1,119. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Mini SE: unmarked, 1/2.3-inch CMOS. Mavic 3 Classic: The job pays, or the Hasselblad is the point.
Price board
UK pounds, dated snapshots. Each cell names the box that figure is for. EAN is the barcode on that carton when a UK listing cited one; otherwise we leave it blank rather than guess. Not live APIs. Buying used checklist.
| Mini SE as of 2026-08-31 | Mavic 3 Classic as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | — Discontinued as new — Mini SE (not Mini 2, not Mini 2 SE / Mini 4K) | £1,119 Mavic 3 Classic (standard, not Cine, not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Mini SE buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Mini 2 SE | See Amazon No new Classic buy box — search only; ignore Mavic 4 Pro hits |
| eBay UK band | See eBay Used Mini SE kits — confirm it is not Mini 2 or Mini 2 SE / Mini 4K | £650–£1,050 Used Mavic 3 Classic (standard, not Cine, not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| CeX sell | — CeX search — no SKU invented | — Mavic 3 Classic (DJI RC), SKU SROBDJIMAV3CLARCA — unpriced |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented | See CeX Mavic 3 Classic (DJI RC), SKU SROBDJIMAV3CLARCA — unpriced |
Reviews that put these together
- Review: the DJI Mini 2 is the perfect drone for beginners
4K/30, RAW stills, OcuSync 2.0, sub-250 g, no obstacle avoidance
DPReview · 2020-11-05 - DJI Mavic 3 Classic review: a more affordable entry into the Mavic world
4/3 Hasselblad without the telephoto, 5.1K, as a cheaper Mavic 3
DPReview · 2022-11-02